We usually park at Wright's Beach and follow the path north along the coastline. It is fairly flat with pretty views of the ocean. Lots of brush on either side of the trail but it is maintained well. There are nice photo ops along the way and you can see and hear birds calling out or flying gracefully in the sky. There is one area further north where we often take the path down to the beach. Even though you will see cars in the parking lot, we have never run into crowds of people so it is quiet and a place where you can be one with nature with beautiful ocean views. read more

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Beautiful trail. Beware of the ticks!! This is the spot to go visit for some nice pictures and views. Hike was not intense at all.

I had higher hopes for this trail. I hike a lot and love exploring/experiencing new trail along the coast & everywhere else. Being straight forward & to the point this trail was very underwhelming. There were parking lots throughout the entire trail at least 10-15 minutes apart. More than the coastline and nature I saw parking lots and traffic during what I wanted to be peaceful & nature filled. I generally prefer trails with more nature and less people. This trail creates traffic with all the parking lots along the trail that allow ppl to travel the trail at any point making it more easy to access for crowds. There weren't any trees along the trail, mostly shrubs & bushes so you saw more people and cars than anything else. The random points where you couldn't see the parking lots and street traffic were beautiful, but it's wasn't consistent enough. I'd recommend this for beginner hikers that don't want to go far and don't want to be/feel secluded in nature. If you prefer more isolated hikes filled with natural views then keep looking. read more

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North of Bodega Bay, breathtaking and sweeping Pacific Ocean views await you on the Kortum Trail. A hike here is definitely the ideal way to end my stay in this beautiful Sonoma County coastal community. Even on a weekday, many people were taking advantage of the sunshine, fresh air, and windless day to greet the morning, afternoon, or evening! The most scenic and interesting of the trail is the northern section, which starts near the Blind Beach parking area and continues 2.25 miles south to Shell Beach. This is an easy, popular trail, and you will encounter people not only hiking but bird watching, running, and, yes, biking (go figure:)! Kortum Trail is open year round and spectacular to visit anytime. Please know dogs are not allowed on Kortum Trail. The legacy of Bill Kortum, whom the trail is named in honor of... is an interesting one. It is truly amazing the impact one individual can have on so many people. Take a moment and explore him on your favorite search engine. Happy hiking! read more

Kortum Trail - Hiking Near Me

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How fortunate we are to have this magnificent hike so accessible! Today was likely my 10th time walking this gorgeous hike & I realized I've never reviewed it. The beauty of this hike is you can make it as long or as short as you wish and can start at different locations. The majority of this hike is right along the coast with the most spectacular views. Today we began at Wrights Beach & ended up at Shell Beach. Other times I've started at Goat Rock (that's probably the more challenging side- a few rollers to traverse). I guarantee you'll be taking photos along the way read more

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Wow! If I had this view, I'd exercise everyday! This is a scentic trail - it's so wonderful to see the blue waters and greenery. It wasn't a busy trail, which was nice. Some areas were muddy, but it wasn't too bad. Loved this hike and would love to be back! read more

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"I don't like sand. It's coarse and rough and irritating and it gets everywhere. Not like here. Here everything is soft and smooth." -Anakin Skywalker. The eventual Sith Lords whining assessment of his home planet also perfectly describes the Kortum Trail! If you like long walks on the beach without actually having to walk on the coarse, rough, and irritatingly sandy beach...then this 9ish mile out and back coastline trail is perfect for you! This relatively easy trek is great for all ages, the trail is 'soft and smooth', easily marked, and well maintained; many sections even utilize wood plank walkways to avoid the ground altogether. While skirting the ocean cliffs the walk is mostly flat with one mini peak. "This is where the fun begins" as the incline up the hill will surely get the heart going, but is definitely manageable and you will surely have the high ground at the appropriately dubbed "peaked hill" summit. Beautiful trail overall when the weather is right. All Trails says it's "beautiful to visit anytime" but I respectfully disagree- the Sonoma Coast is not a prime hiking destination when the weather acts up- and it often does. It can be wet like Kamino, as muddy as dagobah, or as windy and cold as Hoth- so if you're into that then it is in fact a year round trail; if not, just check the weather before locking in the expedition. If it's just another Naboo weekend, I'd suggest bringing water, sunglasses, and a jacket in case it gets windy. When you see the random rock formation, I vote you explore- you might even run into some rock climbers scaling the crag. Ultimately this stroll is great with tons of photo opps and plenty of options to extend the hike if so inclined. It can get busy so if you prefer solitude like me, go early. Shell beach is a great place to take a break and picnic (or to start and end a shorter stroll) but beware, it's an actual beach so there will in fact be a ton of irritating sand. May the weather be with you and please practice leave no trace principles on your journey! read more

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Calling all adventure seekers, bluffs and beach views lovers, and those in need of fresh air! We took the start of kortum trail from shell beach to goat rock beach. 4 mile round trip. Loved loved loved this hike/trail. We came on a Wednesday and the weather was perfect. Skies were blue! Just dress in layers, bring a hat/beanie, sunglasses and water. (Bring a snack and blanket if youre the type to want to enjoy the views longer) There is a slight uphill (additional uphill to peaked hill) but then you descend down towards goat rock. Be sure to stop for the coastal views at the bluffs. You'll also see sea stacks (rocks)...photo ops of you're brave enough to climb. I would definitely come back again and venture off to other trails. Shell beach parking lot has bathrooms if you start there. read more

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A lovely coastal trail that wraps the Sonoma County beaches. I like the wood boardwalk. It's an easy breezy hike. Bring your windbreaker! Stops by the various beaches. You can start at any of the beaches on the map and they're all a lovely view of the ocean. Take your time and enjoy the sights. We started at Wright Beach and had a picnic at Shell Beach. read more

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On our hike, we started at Shell beach, and took a detour down the cliff to see some tidepools - the water was extremely clear and we saw some clams, anemones, and barnacles. The hike itself was pretty much a walk and was super easy. There's a dirt path to follow with some occasional wooden platforms to walk across - not too much elevation changes, but the gorgeous view of the water stays constant! I'm not a runner, but this is a great place to go for a run - the path is only big enough for about 2-3 people though so watch out for that. A huge plus for free parking and a restroom! read more

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Just gorgeous!!! They have restrooms at the beginning, but bring your hand sanitizer, there's no sinks. Easy trails. Steps down to the beach and tide pools. There's good parking too. read more

Kortum Trail - Hiking Near Me

Ocean views for days! The parking lot is huge and right off Highway 1 for easy access. There are multiple hiking trails that run both North and South along the coast. If you're not looking to rack up a bunch of miles or just want to enjoy a lazy day by the sea, there's a 5 minute direct trail that leads you right down to Shell Beach. I did see signs for no dogs, so that's something to be aware of for pet owners. We ended up hiking a few miles and looped back to Shell Beach to eat lunch. It happened to be low tide which allows you to see some rare marine life. I also totally recommend bringing some warm layers, as the wind was roaring. I think the views alone make this a must-visit hiking spot for anyone in the Bay Area. read more

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There is so many things that I love about this trail. One of my favorite things about this trail is the breathtaking views of the rugged coastline that go on for miles. There are places where you can walk down to the beach, enjoy the sound of the waves, and take in the beauty of the pacific ocean. We have walked on the trail in both directions, although my favorite is from shell beach to goat rock beach. Both directions have gorgeous views though. Another thing I like is that parking at this place is free so anyone can park and enjoy these trails and amazing views. There are lots of trails that you can take and we look forward to coming back soon because it is such a beautiful and peaceful place to hike! read more

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Great coast-side trail between Bodega Bay and Jenner, near Highway 1. Mostly flat through the perched bluffs of the northern California Coast, but there are some climbs that go about 400 feet up. Also if you go down to any of the beaches, there will also be a climb. This is not a loop, so you'll go up and back the same way. You can do a 1-2 mile hike here or you can stretch it to a 8-9 mile hike. This generous trail stretches from Wright's Beach (Southern point) which is about a five minute drive out of Bodega Bay, to Goat Rock which is near Jenner, where the Russian River spills into the Pacific. In between there are Shell's Beach and Blind Beach to enjoy and/or explore. All of them are beautiful in their own ways. And because there is a good climb to get to these beaches, it doesn't get swamped like the beaches closer to Highway 1, where there is no climb. It's simply hard to carry a cooler or beach gear down some steep log steps. The trails brush the cliffsides, so the views are undeniably refreshing. A good amount of the trail is also amongst a marsh area which is crossed via a wooden bridge trail. The trails here are also narrow, basically a 2 lane trail. Wouldn't of been an issue in the past, but now people watch their spacing. I went early in the morning, so I never crossed paths with anybody. But if so, the masks should go on, it's a hiking etiquette I've observed and now practice. Lots of wild flowers in a myriad of colors. Lots of rock formations both on the bluff and down in the ocean. I love taking photos of natural shapes and textures, so I have a field day out here. Blind Beach is my favorite as it is large and vacant. Beautiful rock formations all over the place, and the beach is littered with colorful smooth rocks that shimmer like gems after the ocean recedes and the sunshine brightens it. It's a very unique beach. I can't wait to come back and explore some more. read more

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One of my favorite trails to walk in. Has some great spots for rock climbing. Leads to Goat rock read more

Kortum Trail - Great Trail - Hiking Near Me

This is a nice and easy trail with fantastic ocean views. You can hike as little or as long as you want from Blind each to Wright's Beach (about 4.6 miles). There are parts of the trail overgrown with reeds, making the hike difficult (1 star off), but overall is a great "hike" for lazy people like me. read more

This is a great trail! Started from where we were camping, at Wrights Beach, one end of the trail. And we decided we were going all the way there and back, which was just over 9 miles! And so amazing! This trail is along side the coast, with many beach access and view points! It was late February when we hiked and was windy at times but overall beautiful with flowers blooming, surrounded by lush greenery. Side note, it was quite muddy in places too, like wear waterproof shoes of some sort muddy! In the 4 something miles, there were a number of parking lots with bathrooms, too! We stayed on the trail for the most part there, and explored some rocks that supposedly mammoths rubbed smooth and shiny. And on our way back walked along the beach some. I'd say it's quite an easy hike, nothing too strenuous but do pack plenty of water, food and layers - and enjoy! read more

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The best thing about this trail, besides the gorgeous views of the Pacific ocean, is you park in the middle and can easily walk/hike as little or as much as you want. Want only level ground? Got it. Want challenging hills? Got it. Want to walk on the beach & dip your toe in the ocean? Got that, too. Park at Shell Beach (free parking even), which has pit toilets that were very clean & well stocked with paper products, plus garbage cans and recycling bins, too. No water, & dogs are not allowed, though we did see some rule-breaking pooches enjoying the trail. At the trail head is a map with details on various length walks/hikes. We hiked north to Goat rock which had some good elevation gain/loss down to the beach and then we hiked south to Furlong Gulch. Almost 8 miles total. Weather is best in winter. We went in early January and it was sunny & warm. Summers can be foggy & cold. There is always some wind, so dress in layers you can remove. Thank you Bill Kortum for helping to save this land for the rest of us to enjoy. read more

Kortum Trail - Pacific ocean and the beach from our hike on the Kortum Trail. - Hiking Near Me

I liked this trail because it's easy, well marked, has a huge parking lot and has immediate coastal views. I thought the best view was the overlook not too far from the trailhead though. If you continue, you're basically just walking through coastal vegetation and you would eventually end up at Goat Rock Beach. We decided to head back after a while, and then just drove over to Goat Rock Beach, which I'm glad we did (I find coastal trails kind of boring after a while). Totally exposed trail. There's some boardwalk paths at some point. Right at the trailhead, there's also a path and eventual stairs that lead to the beach, which was fun too. read more

Beautiful hike - mostly flat and easy - gorgeous views. NorCal at its best. Go to the nearby Russian House #1!

Absolutely beautiful. We weren't up for the 8+ mile hike to do the whole park, so we drove down to Goat Rock Beach (stunning vistas on the drive down), and then drove to Shell Beach and hiked from there to Wright's Beach and back (about 3 miles) and only one area with a steep elevation change. Amazing views hiking along the coast. Such a great way to spend a couple hours on an otherwise wine-soaked vacation. ;) read more

Gorgeous views along th Kortum Trail last week-end. This trail is relatively level with beautiful views of tthe Sonoma Coast and the Pacific Ocean. read more

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I finally managed to come hike a portion of this 3.7 mile long trail (running from Wright Beach to Goat Rock, passing Shell Beach along the way) which is described in one of my Bay Area hiking books. The view of the Sonoma Coast is indeed spectacular looking both towards the north and south. I was also surprised by how many people were hiking today on the portion between Shell Beach and Goat Rock, which verifies its popularity. read more

I love this trail.....my friend and I just finished it, in 3 different hikes.....I have to warn people though. The trail from Goat Rock is hilly and exerting.......the trail from Shell Beach towards Goat Rock can be somewhat treacherous in places. From Wrights Beach to Shell Beach, is just right. You get a good workout without any life threatening issues! The views are spectacular.... read more